A synagogue in Allawah, a suburb of Sydney, was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti early Friday morning, a troubling continuation of recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in Australia. New South Wales Police have established a special taskforce to investigate the attack, according to Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna, who stressed the commitment to bring perpetrators to justice.

The vandalism included multiple swastikas and a message stating “Hitler on top,” and was captured on television footage. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the incident, asserting that such criminal acts have no place in Australia’s multicultural society. “There is no place in Australia, our tolerant multicultural community, for this sort of criminal activity,” he stated at a news conference.

This incident adds to a concerning trend of rising antisemitic occurrences in Australia, particularly following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, especially the conflict between Israel and Hamas which intensified in October 2023. Previous incidents have included graffiti attacks on various structures and an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue that was classified as terrorism.

In response to the upward trend of antisemitic acts, the Australian government launched a taskforce last month to address the threats faced by the Jewish community. Significantly, Australia’s ice hockey federation recently canceled a planned international qualifying tournament due to safety concerns linked to the presence of the Israeli national team, reflecting broader anxieties within various sectors regarding communal safety.

Despite the alarming nature of these events, community leaders and citizens express a hopeful outlook. There is a collective call for unity against hate and a commitment to fostering an inclusive society. The proactive measures taken by law enforcement and the government demonstrate a dedication to combating antisemitism and protecting minority communities, offering a path toward a safer and more harmonious future for all Australians.

In summary, the attack on the synagogue underscores the urgent need for collective action against antisemitism. It serves as a reminder of the importance of community solidarity in confronting hate and promotes a vision for inclusivity and mutual respect in Australian society.